Back in February I went to see the Edmonton Opera’s production of H.M.S. Pinafore. As a first-timer, I was pleasantly surprised! I can honestly say I had a good time and enjoyed the opera. With that in mind, I agreed to check out Falstaff on Saturday with Sharon. Here’s the description from Wikipedia:
Falstaff is an operatic commedia lirica in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare’s plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV. It was Verdi’s last opera, written in the composer’s eighth decade, and only the second of his twenty-six operas to be a comedy.
It was entertaining enough, but I didn’t enjoy Falstaff nearly as much as H.M.S. Pinafore. I think I took a few things for granted. For one thing, Pinafore was in English, so the subtitles weren’t completely necessary. They were for Falstaff though. Pinafore starred my favorite, Jeff Haslam. The characters were more interesting. By comparison, Falstaff seemed sort of boring. We also had pizza and beer during the intermission at Pinafore, which probably made more of a difference than I expected.
In short, Falstaff was closer to the image of opera that I have always had in my head. Interesting, but not really my thing.
Before the show they played a video introducing the lineup for next season. Edmonton Opera will perform Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, Donizetti’s Daughter of the Regiment, and Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers. The “plus one” performance will be Verdi’s La Traviata. Every time they announced one of the titles, the audience seemed to gasp with delight. Sharon and I just looked at each other, puzzled. I guess it helps if you’ve heard of them before!
Sharon’s write-up is here.
Oooooh! “The Pearl Fishers” is awesome! Well, actually, I’ve never seen the opera, but the songs are fantastic!
I’m not sure I can do this, but there is a production of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” being put on this summer by a new opera company called “Mercury Opera” and they are looking for chorus singers. Does anyone know any interested tenors and baritone/basses for this production?
I realized I never left any contact info. Interested persons can reach Daria Parada at mercuryopera@gmail.com
Friends:
Please support further exciting site specific opera productions in
Edmonton by attending our
oodles of oompah – pah – fun -draiser.
The details of said event are below, and be sure to tell your friends
about it too.
Hope to see you there to hail the kick off of the Fall cultural season.
Cheers!
Darcia
http://www.mercuryopera.com
Edmonton, you embraced our Pagliacci last August so
PUT ON YOUR LEDERHOSEN and UNLEASH YOUR INNER OOMPAH!
OP-TOB-ERFEST!
FRIDAY OCTOBER 24TH Mercury Opera’s
inaugural Fall Fundraiser – Bash
featuring the Mercury opera oompah Band playing opera’s greatest hits
and more…
8PM UNTIL THE KEG RUNS DRY
at
Amber’s Brewing Co.
9926 78th Avenue
Tickets in advance $25
call 780 637 5829 or email mercuryopera@gmail.com
Hurry! Space is very limited
entertainment, bratwurst and beer on tap(cash bar)!
Hi Boris:
May I have an audition? Who should I contact for one? Find me on Facebook. Peace.
Kindly Yours,
Russ Bergen